Tampabay.com
SEPTEMBER 19, 2009

For starters, Rays vs Jays without Upton

Update: 5:52 p.m. Manager Joe Maddon said the CF B.J. Upton is physically fine, he just wanted to leave a couple left-handed hitters in the lineup against Romero, with lefties having a higher slugging percentage against him (lefties are also hitting .311 vs Romero).

Maddon said the decision was between Upton and Akinori Iwamura, so he went with Iwamura, and moved Zobrist to center.

*Maddon said they're still in discussions about when Wade Davis will make his next start, which could be Wednesday (on regular rest) against the Mariners or Friday against Texas. RHP James Shields would likely start Wednesday if Davis is pushed back due to throwing 124 pitches in a complete-game Thursday.

**

The Rays will try to go for their third straight win tonight against the Jays before the next edition in the Summer Concert Series begins.

They have a little different lineup today, with Ben Zobrist in center and B.J. Upton out. Pat Burrell is back at DH, and Dioner Navarro behind the plate.

They'll have a tough task with Jays left-hander Ricky Romero on the mound. Romero, who is making his own case for the Rookie of the Year Award, shut down the Rays earlier this season with eight shutout inning in Toronto.

Rays lineup

Bartlett ss
Crawford lf
Longoria 3b
Zobrist cf
Burrell, dh
Aybar, 1b
Kapler, rf
Navarro, c
Iwamura, 2b

Garza, rhp

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

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